Charleston Bees, I Need Help Planning A Wedding!

My best friend, who lives in Colorado, has asked me, who lives in Alabama, to be her MOH in her wedding next spring. She really wants to have her wedding in the Charleston area [not necessarily in the city, but somewhere near there]. Since neither of us live close, we’re having a hard time planning. I was just wondering what vendors bees who live there/got married there used. What venues? What florists? Band/DJ?

Some info:

She would like next spring. Probably March or April. I don’t know if she wants indoors or outdoors.

Probably under 100 guests

I’m not sure of her exact budget, but I’m going to say around $10k

Anything would help us. We’re not too sure where to start since we can’t just drive over to look at any venues we find online. Thanks so much!

I don’t live in Charleston but I just attended a family wedding there this weekend. Just got back from the 10 hour drive about 1/2 an hour ago actually. The wedding was held at the Old Wide Awake Plantation in Hollywood, SC. It was about 1/2 hour drive from where we were, which was Daniel Island, right on the edge of Charleston. I would say for anyone in Charleston it’s about a 20 minute drive. Although the wedding I went to was quite small and there were really no decorations, if you Google ‘Old Wide Awake Plantation weddings’ you will return some beautiful image searches. It’s definitely the type of venue that could handle some nice DIY.

Thank you for posting this! I am interested in seeing what people say. My FI and I plan to have a very small ceremony in Oct in Charleston. We really want to get married at the White Point Garden Gazebo but in Oct in SC you NEVER know what the weather will be (you will have the problem in March and April and may get some to recommend an indoor wedding at that time), but the main thing I am worried about is the beginning of hurricane season. So really need a back up plan and I don’t want to pay a fortune for something we may not use. So I am really interested to see the response.

For Venues check out Poplar Grove Boat house. It rents for about $1000 has wrap around porches it is on the water. One the major blogs showcased it a year or so ago. It is not located in downtown.

If you go a liitle further uptown in Charleston you will find the Charleston Rifle club. It is located on the water very pretty, beautiful property. Hampton park is close by and has a beautiful gazebo,huge oak, flower gardens, bridges over ponds.

Gold Bug Island rents for 1000 and it includes tables and chairs. It is on the way to Sullivans Island. It is surrounded by water.

I have lived in Charleston all my life and their are many vendors that locals use that you will not find listed on these boards. Charleston has a huge wedding industry and you will find the same venues and vendors listed over and over.

I am planning my daughters wedding and I am amazed by how much prices have risen since I had planned her sisters wedding 2 1/2 years ago.

@Mrs. Bear Cheese Pie: If she wants to get married next March/April, tell her she needs to get on it with the venue. Charleston venues tend to book quickly, and I did not realize how quickly. The venue I was looking at in March had plenty of availability in March and April. When we actually visited the venue in April, the earliest they had was in May, other than the weekend of the cooper river bridge run, which we were not going to do.

Venue: Magnolia Plantation

Caterer: Crazy Dutchman

Photographer: April Meachum

Cake: Declare Cakes

Flowers: This is where I am cutting my budget, so I’m going with Sam’s Club wedding flower collection

I think one of the most overlooked venues in charleston is the charleston yacht club off of Lockwood drive. Very affordable, nice inside and has all the rentals you need. Also you can pay $250 their bartenders and provide your own beverages- huge, huge savings. We didn’t end up having our wedding there, but they were so accommodating when I was looking.

Also consider the visitors center downtown. For $600, it can’t be beat!